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New research suggests that children who consume sweetened soft drinks are not necessarily heavier than those who do not.
A study, presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Glasgow, has revealed no direct link between the consumption of sugary drinks and a higher overall energy consumption in children from 4 to 10 years old. .
Nor were there any significant differences between the body mbad index (BMI) of children who consumed sweetened soft drinks and those who did not use it.
The study suggests that the sugar tax, which came into force last year, "might not be the most effective tactics" to combat childhood obesity, said the researchers .
The team, from the University of Nottingham, badyzed data from a survey of 1,300 British children aged 4 to 10 between 2008 and 2016, including a four-day food diary.
In total, 61% of children drank at least one soft drink during this period, but more than three quarters (78%) of this group did not exceed their recommended total daily caloric intake.
According to the authors, there were no significant differences between the BMIs of drinkers and non-drinkers.
Overall, the study also found that 78% of children consumed more than the recommended daily amount of added sugars, including that found in fruit juices and confectionery.
This figure was 68% among drinkers of sugary drinks.
"High consumption of added sugars was not directly correlated with high energy consumption," said Ola Anabtawi, head of research.
"Therefore, relying on a mono-nutrient approach to combat childhood obesity in the form of a tax on soft drinks might not be the most effective tactic."
She added, "Our results indicate that drinking sugary drinks is not a particular behavior in children of high body weight.
"On the contrary, reducing sugar consumption in the fight against obesity could reinforce negative stereotypes around" unhealthy diets ".
"Instead, policies should focus on children whose consumption of sugary drinks dramatically increases their total consumption of added sugar in combination with other public health interventions."
Commenting on these findings, Dr. Katarina Kos, from Exeter University, warned that the effects of sugar consumption may only manifest later in children.
"The study should not be seen as an badurance that we can relax about sugary drinks, but as the authors also say, it highlights the complexity of the environment," he said. she said.
"Children exercise less than before, so they need fewer calories and less energy, regardless of their source."
Matt Lambert, a nutritionist at the World Cancer Research Fund, said, "Although the consumption of sugary drinks is not a weight gain factor in this particular study, it is usually due to the fact that children who consume more sugary drinks eat less of the "empty calories" of sugary drinks, which are usually devoid of essential nutrients.
"It's clear that drinking sweetened beverages is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to weight gain.
"The overconsumption of fast foods and other processed foods high in fat, starches or sugars, combined with a sedentary lifestyle are all important factors. A wide range of complementary measures will be needed to reduce childhood obesity rates. "
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